Collapsible box



June 16, 19542. w. A. BECKER 2,286,399

COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filled March 9, 1939 3nventor WHLTER H. Beams/z (Ittorneg Patented June 16, 1942 TD sr ATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BOX Application March 9, 1939, Serial No. 260,792

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a receptacle such as a cardboard box which is used for packaging articles. More specifically it relates to a box having novel structural features enabling the box to be folded to a collapsed position, so that a plurality of boxes may be stacked, one upon the other, and shipped in such a manner that a minimum amount of space will be required.

The present invention comprises a collapsible box having parallel end walls and parallel side walls integral with a bottom portion, and cut from a single blank, the height of each of said walls being greater than one half the width of the box. The end walls have a tab integral with the lower edges thereof and are disposed upon the end of these end walls in a position where they may be overlapped with relation to the sidewalls and secured to the exterior thereof at a point adjacent the bottom of the box. These tabs are of such a width as to allow the collapsing sidewalls to overlap each other and still not interfere with the end wall tabs which are secured to the exterior of the sidewalls near the bottom. In order for the tabs not to interfere or contact the side walls when in collapsed position it is very important that the width of the tabs shall be less than the difference between the width of the box and the height. Also, in order to provide means whereby the end walls can also collapse, a diagonal or oblique crease .line is provided in the tabs along a line adjacent the place where these tabs are secured. This will allow all four sides to collapse with the sidewalls collapsing slightly in advance of the end walls.

Heretofore, collapsible boxes have been provided but collapsible boxes of this type have been limited strictly to boxes whose width is greater than the combined height of both of the sidewalls. In other words, the unique corner construction of my invention enables the sidewalls to be of considerably greater height than has heretofore been possible and yet have means for collapsing the box.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of a blank from which the improved box is made;

Figure 2 is an isometric View of this same blank after the first creasing operation has been performed;

Figure 3 is an isometric view similar to Figure 2 after the second creasing operation has been performed;

Figure 4 is an isometric view showing the box after the third creasing operation has been performed, which comprises the folding of the sidewalls.

Figure 5 is an isometric view showing the blank after the fourth and fifth creasing operations have been performed, that is after glue has been applied and the end walls have been folded to collapsed position;

Figure 6 is an isometric sectional view taken along the line 6-45 in Figure 5, but showing the sidewalls and the end walls in a partially opened position;

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the box when it is fully opened.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the numeral [0 denotes a suitable body blank which is creased to form side walls H and end walls i2. The end walls have suitable tabs M integral therewith, said tabs being separated from the portions I2 by means of diagonal or oblique perforations l5. During the manufacture of a box of this type, it is customary to pass the same longitudinally through a machine, which first creases or folds the leading tabs M in the manner shown in Figure 2. As the blank continues to move to the left, the trailing tabs [4 are creased or folded along the perforated lines l5 to a position as shown in Figure 3.

The next operation in the machine as the blank continues to move to the left, is shown in Figure 4, in which the side walls II are folded inwardly as well as the ends of the end walls l2. In other words the side Walls and the ends of the end walls are creased along lines I6.

When the box is in the folded position as shown in Figure 4, it stops its longitudinal travel and then moves in a direction which is at right angles to the longitudinal center line. The first operation during this transverse motion is the application of suitable glue spots I! to the exterior of the side walls H, and at such a point that they will coincide with the tabs l4 when the same are folded upon them.

The next operation during the transverse travel of the box is the folding of the end walls l2 and tabs M in the manner shown in Figure 5, at which time the exterior surface of'the tabs I l, as shown in Figure 4, will be pressed downwardly upon the glue spots I! thereby securing these tabs to the exterior of the sidewalls. During the last bending operation, the end walls l2 are creased or bent inwardly along the line [5,

Figure 6 shows a box in a partially opened position and it is there seen that only the tabs [4 are secured to the exterior of the side walls. It should also be noted that these tabs are considerably narrower than the height of the end walls thereby providing room for the sidewalls to overlap each other and still not contact these tabs, nor will the tabs contact each other. Of course it is necessary that the tabs I4 be integral with the lower edge of the end walls l2 thereby providing a notched out portion l9 near the upper edge thereof.

By providing a box of this type the minimum amount of paper is used and also when the box is in a fully opened position, as shown in Figure '7, the ends of the side Walls abut against the interior of the end walls tothereby hold the box in an opened position. It is impossible for the sidewalls or the end walls to move outwardly any further than is shown in Figure 7, due to the fact that the tabs l4 and the ends of the end walls l2 are disposed on the exterior of the side walls.

In the drawing and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A box blank formed from a rectangular piece of paper creased longitudinally to form a pair of inwardl foldable sidewalls whose combined width is more than the width of the bottom, said blank having a slot spaced from each corner of the blank a distance substantially the same as the width of the sidewalls, both edges of said slot being perpendicular to the outer edge of the side wall said blank also being creased transversely in alinement with said slots to form inwardly foldable end walls of the same width as the sidewalls, said end walls having a tab extending from each end and being creased in alinement with the creases defining the sidewalls each of said tabs having a notch cut in the corner remote from the side walls, said notch having its sides parallel to the sidewalls and end walls of the blank and each of said tabs having, a 45 degree crease line connecting the base of said slot with the apex of said notch.

WALTER A. BECKER. 

